My very terrible experience: CLOSURE

[Frank <fca@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Last Monday I posted a summary of my experience regarding the repair of
my overheated Milano on the AD.  That same morning I also faxed an
8-page detail of the whole affair to the mechanic I was at odds with,
the intention being to condense a year into one document to illustrate
the absurdity of what happened.  In my cover letter to the mechanic I
bluntly demanded the remainder of the money I paid him for =93work alread=
y
done.=94  He telephoned me half an hour later to discuss my fax.  We
quickly reached the agreement that he will pay me back everything I gave
him over the 11 months my car was at his shop.  He apologized for the
way the whole thing came out and promised to be more sensitive to the
needs of future customers.  He also promised to take care of any
problems or concerns that arise with the other specialist Alfa shops in
the area concerning this matter, as they all know one another well and
are in frequent contact. To prove his commitment to making me happy, he
sent me a check for the balance of what I had paid for =93work already
done,=94 by overnight express mail.  In return I promised to keep his nam=
e
off the digest.

In his defense, the mechanic told me he simply did not realize I needed
the Milano repaired as quickly as I now say given that I had a GTV to
run around in.  He also said he would have worked on the car much, much
sooner had I been a bit more aggressive in expressing myself.  This is a
difference of opinion I do not care to debate.

In any case, I have the car back and I have my money back.  Yes I lost a
year in the transaction and $775 in the last week in towing charges
alone.  But I asked for what I felt was unquestionably fair and got it
without having to get nasty.  As for not publishing the mechanic=92s name
on the AD, I hesitated because of the nagging feeling that I really
didn=92t know enough about this man to risk tarnishing his reputation.
Perhaps there were special circumstances that made this debacle
unavoidable.  It would have broken my heart to discover after the fact
that he had some crippling illness that made it impossible for him to
get to my car any sooner.  I don=92t think that is the case here but I
often hesitate to get nasty for such reasons.

So, what does my deal to mention no names do to my fellow digesters?  No
harm in my estimation as many people likely to be affected already know
the identity of the mechanic =96 we don=92t have that many to choose from
around here and the few that know for a fact will tell their friends,
who in turn will tell their friends.  For those looking for a good shop
to take their Alfa, I suggest you ask for recommendations or about the
reputation of a particular shop, on the digest, someone is bound to give
you their opinion based on personal experience or hearsay.

My Milano is presently in Vermont (Hildebrand Restorations) getting a
low-mileage 3.0 engine fitted.  I opted for the 3 liter because it will
make this whole thing worthwhile.  I expect to fly up to Vermont in the
next day or two to drive it back to Cape Cod.

A few things I have learned over this whole matter might be of interest
to all of you.

1. When you are paying a guy to do a job he=92s not doing you any great
favors so don=92t hesitate to make a stink if it=92s not going the way yo=
u
expected.  That was my primary error.

2. You can say anything you want about anyone as long as it is true.
They may sue you for libel but they can=92t win!  Just make sure you
document everything well and stick to facts.

3. Threat of exposure on the digest is a particularly powerful weapon.
Do be careful not to abuse it.

- -Frank

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